Group Tells DSS To Apprehend Saheed Popoola Over Bribery, Election Rigging Claim

A Group, Ajuloopin Patriotic Team (APT) has called on the Department of State Security Service (DSS) to immediately arrest one Mr Saheed Popoola, a member of Kwara State House of Assembly for his claimed to rigging the 2018 by-election in Ekiti, Isin, Irepodun and Oke-ero Federal Constituency of Kwara.

The Group through his spokesperson, Mr Taiwo Adewale, in a statement issued in Omu-Aran on Wednesday described Saheed Popoola’s statement as criminal which should be thoroughly investigated.

It would be recalled that Saheed Popoola, had in a Radio program on Tuesday said he used N2 million he collected from the then candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the rerun election, Rep Tunji Ajuloopin to rig the by-election through the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members that presided.

“I used N2 million that I collected from Ajuloopin to rig by-election for him through NYSC members that presided over that election in 2018,” Saheed Popoola said.

The group queried why Saheed Popoola who is not a member of the constituency would abandon his Offa, Oyun and Ifelodun Federal constituency to come to Ajuloopin’s constituency and claimed to rig election on a day when human and vehicular movements were restricted except for those on essential duty.

This called to question the character of Saheed Popoola, a political jobber exhibiting thuggery and crass irresponsibility by crossing border to purportedly rig election and perpetrate electoral violence, thereby subverting the will of the people.

“It should be stated here that Saheed Popoola is not from the constituency where election took place neither did he vote at any of the polling units, so how he knew who to bribe in an election he was not a party to portray him as a border criminal and election rigger who must be call to question pronto.

The group urged the DSS to compel Saheed Popoola to provide the names and identity of the NYSC members he allegedly bribed, stressing that the DSS should also asked if Ajuloopin ever contracted him to give anyone money on his behalf.

The group further said that Saheed Popoola’s spurous claimed that he was a witness when Alh. Lai Mohammed handed over the money to Ajuloopin must be probed and made to provide where, when and how.

The group also called on the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) not to sit akimbo and watched Saheed Popoola go without questioning for such open admission to financial misdemeanor and inducement.

The group also called on the Speaker of Kwara State House of Assembly as a matter of urgency to set up an ad hoc committee to investigate such a reckless, ludicrous and indicting statement coming from one of its members to establish the veracity of his claim and give appropriate sanction.

The group said that such a despicable character, an election rigger and enabler of criminality should not be allowed to sit in the hallow chamber, adding that it is a desecration of the peoples parliament by aiding and abetting crime.

According to the statement, we equally call on the leadership of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state to as a matter of urgency swing into action and act appropriately on such allegation and unguarded utterances from Saheed Popoola.

The group said Saheed Popoola should answer how he knew the Corps members that were posted to conduct the by-election.

They also called on the management of NYSC to sue Saheed Popoola for such defamation and character assassination because it amounted to discrediting the NYSC.

It also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to investigate the statement made by Saheed Popoola and charge him to court for aiding and abeiting crime

According to the group, Pooola’s revelation shows a demonstration of absolute lack of character, moral and integrity to be representing the good people of Ojomu/Owode Constituency of Offa.

The group however disown Saheed Poopola’s statement as an attempt to discredit the most credible, free and fair election in the annal of Kwara history, describing him as a failed politician seeking who to recruit to its fold since he failed in his quest to become the Speaker of the State House of Assembly.

It stated that such allegation was reckless, sad and an unbridled diatribe which would eventually land him in prison.

The group said that Ajuloopin believed in a free, fair and credible election and had never involved in any rigging nor believed in Saheed Popoola’s despicable act to swing votes through rigging.

The group said transparency, integrity and fairness have always defined Ajuloopin’s quest to represent his people through a credible exercise and would not back down irrespective of the campaign of calumny by the irredeemable loquacious Saheed Popoola.